North Korea launched a short-range missile toward the Sea of Japan Tuesday for the third time in 45 days, NHK TV reported citing sources in the Japanese government.

There is still no final decision on whether to put North Korean funds, which had been frozen in a Macau bank account, back in Pyongyang's hands, according to the ITAR-Tass news agency.

Talks between North and South Korea have faltered, with the two sides producing no substantial agreement despite talking since Tuesday. As VOA's Kurt Achin reports from Seoul, the main sticking point is Seoul's refusal to send aid across the border until the North implements a nuclear disarmament agreement.

A delegation of high-ranking North Korean officials is in the South Korean capital for talks aimed at improving cooperation between the two countries. VOA's Kurt Achin reports from Seoul that Pyongyang's failure to meet a deadline for halting some of its nuclear-weapons production has given authorities in Seoul second thoughts about sending aid to the North.

A top U.S. diplomat briefed Indonesian leaders about the North Korean nuclear standoff Tuesday, saying Indonesia has an important role in global affairs as a new, non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council.

South Korean officials say it is unlikely that massive rice shipments will be sent to North Korea by the end of the month, as previously scheduled. The impoverished North, which badly needs food and basic supplies, has not taken initial steps it promised towards ending its nuclear weapons program. As VOA Seoul correspondent Kurt Achin reports, North Korean officials are using a diplomatic forum in the Philippines to warn Pyongyang's disarmament will not come quickly.

The first top-level military talks between North and South Korea in a year have had a rocky start. The meeting was intended to focus on providing security for a test of a rail line linking the two countries. But the North injected a new element into the talks, insisting on also discussing a disputed sea border. Claudia Blume reports from VOA's Asia News Center in Hong Kong.

The top U.S. negotiator at North Korea's denuclearization talks says he expects Pyongyang will live up to its agreement in February to close its main nuclear reactor, even after missing a key deadline for the deal in April. VOA's William Ide has more from Washington.

South Korea has agreed to resume massive shipments of rice to impoverished North Korea, despite Pyongyang's failure to shut its main nuclear reactor as promised at six-party talks on its nuclear weapons programs. Kate Woodsome has more on the agreement from VOA's Asia News Center in Hong Kong.

North and South Korean officials continued to negotiate Saturday, hours after they were due to wrap up four days of economic talks. The two sides were expected to issue a joint statement hours ago in the North's capital, Pyongyang. But reports say South Korea first wants the North to commit to honoring its nuclear disarmament pledge.

North and South Korean officials are struggling to make progress on economic talks in Pyongyang, but North Korea's missing of a deadline to start dismantling its nuclear programs is causing tension at the talks. VOA's Heda Bayron reports from our Asia News Center in Hong Kong.

North and South Korean officials have opened talks in Pyongyang regarding food aid and other joint-projects. News reports from Pyongyang say the North Korean delegation delayed Thursday's talks for hours after demanding to see a text of the South's keynote speech, which Seoul refused.